A children’s party is arguably one of the most memorable events in a kid’s life. That’s why you want it to be as grand and exciting as possible, but how do you do it without burning holes in your pocket? Today, we’ve compiled 10 things to keep in mind when throwing a cheap but entertaining kids party your young one will be thankful for!
Pick a Strategic Time
When throwing a cheap kids party, you might want to consider thinking about the time of the event. It would be best to have it in the morning from say 9.30am till 11 am or around 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. when people won’t expect you’ll be serving a full meal. That way you can provide a range of snacks, without having to heat up food or do much prep.
Begin Planning Early
Nothing beats scouting for things you need early. This way, you can compare prices and make sound decisions while you’re not pressured to jump the gun immediately. Collecting decorations after halloween is a great time to get some awesome props at a fraction of the price. Also after christmas or easter there is always massive savings on festive decorations, some of which can double easily as party decorations.
Pair Up for a Party for Two (Or More!)
One effective strategy in throwing a cheap kid’s party is by celebrating it the same time as a sibling or your friend’s kid. This way, you split the bill, double the guest, halve the planning and work and you get even better results. The more, the merrier! And you won’t have to plan alone anymore, so there’s that perk as well.
Steer Clear of Party Stores
Most of the time, party stores have marked up prices, and you might think they’re giving you the best deals and they have everything you need. That’s a dangerous trap, which is why you need to plan early in order to get the best deals. A party box is very popular in my house and I keep all the decorations and props I get on sale through the year and I can pull out items that we need when we need them. Also buying online is a great way to get some awesome discounts, but be sure to order 2 months ahead to account for shipping times from china.
Use Your Connections
Your affiliations and connections matter if you’re planning a cheap kids party. For example, if you know someone who can make balloon animals or who moonlights as a DJ, you might want to get that person instead of a well known and highly paid entertainer which could cost more. This can give acquaintances more exposure as they can hand out cards or flyers to the parents that come to the party, as well as earning money for their performance.
Classic Games Are In
Who said classic games are outdated? They are still an awesome way to keep kids active and happy during events. Games like pass the parcel and pin the tail on the donkey never really go out of fashion. These games are easy to plan and cheap to make. There are heaps of resources online that can give you a hand setting up some cool, old school games.
Start Ordering Online
Ordering online does not guarantee you pay less, but it gives you a clearer side-by-side comparison of prices. It even cuts costs of visiting physical stores, so it has its benefits. There are heaps of sites like ebay and aliexpress where you can order stuff for your party. Also the cheap shops and dollar stores are an excellent resource for party stuff. Make sure you take a peek in some of these stores next time you are at the mall.
Control the Guest List
Keeping the number of guests down depending on your budget is one of the ways you can have a cheap kids party. You can ask your kids who his/ her closest friends are, but if he/ she wants the whole class to come, then you have to negotiate that the venue and preparations won’t be as grand. Give choices. If the guest list becomes large, you might want to consider holding the party at your house or perhaps at a park or beach. Some venues can charge an arm and a leg, so sometimes a home party might be one of the only ways to keep the budget under control.
Put Your DIY Hat On
One effective way to cut costs is to do things yourself. For example, you may create your own decorations, bake a few cupcakes, and a lot more. It requires a bit more time, but it can equate to much less expenses. For example can you make some of the decorations yourself? Or perhaps you can make some of the snacks or even the cake. Supermarkets often sell plain sponge cakes, and these can be great for sculpting into elaborate birthday cakes with the use of icing.
Have a Simple Menu
Kids don’t really want heaps of different types of food during an event or party. They just like to have a few but delicious ones, and you could base it on the theme. For example, if you’re doing it on the beach, burgers, fries, and grilled hot-dogs are key to throwing a cheap kids party while keeping it enjoyable. If you are going with a theme such as minecraft, you can stick to a few simple items and model them after minecraft things. This minecraft pinterest board has some incredible ideas that can be done on the cheap.
And those are 10 of the ways you can throw a cheap but entertaining kids party. Of course we haven’t covered everything here but be sure to check back often to stay up to date with our blog. Are you ready to create memories with your child without breaking the bank?
